Archive for the ‘Kirk Jones’ tag

One wouldn’t expect to see more hot rod shows from a show organizer in 2009; blame it on the economy or uncertainty about gas prices or the recent trend toward collecting hot rods rather than driving them. But the organizers of the Billetproof retro rod shows don’t seem to care about all those things, and they’re actually adding an event for 2009.

Billetproof Texas will become the fifth Billetproof event July 25-26 in Giddings, Texas, and will feature a burnout contest, live bands and a reliability run, in addition to the day-long show.

The Texas event joins the four other events on the Billetproof schedule in Ocala, Florida; Detroit, Michigan; Chehalis, Washington; and Antioch, California. When Alan Galbraith, a Sacramento-based hot rodder, bought the already established Billetproof from Kirk Jones in 2007, he not only said he would quit his day job to focus full-time on Billetproof, but he also promised to expand the event schedule, possibly including shows in the lower Midwest and on the East Coast. The Florida and Washington shows were new for last year.

As stated on Billetproof’s Web site, the shows strictly allow only 1964 and earlier traditional-styled hot rods and customs.

(This post originally appeared in the December 25, 2008, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)

Billetproof, one of the largest – if not the largest – traditional hot rod shows, has been sold, and the new owner promises to expand on the formula.

Kirk Jones, one of two co-founders of Billetproof, announced last week that after more than a year with a For Sale sign in the window, he sold the show to Alan Galbraith, a Sacramento, California-based hot rodder who said he will now give up his full-time job and focus solely on producing Billetproof.

Billetproof is actually two annual shows. The first, which will mark its 10th anniversary this year, is the show in Antioch, California. The second, which will celebrate four years this year, takes place in Detroit. As the rules state on the Billetproof Web site, only 1964 and earlier traditional cars will get in the gate, and only those not showing any visible billet parts.
“Over the last ten years, the hot rodding hobby has changed for the better, and in however small or large a way, Billetproof has helped that happen,” Jones said when announcing the sale. “From day one, Billetproof was intended to level the playing field between big-buck players and the dedicated no-buckers by giving us a place to show our stuff with pride. It has done that and more. I cannot put into words how proud I am of what Billetproof has accomplished and what it has become. It has gone far beyond any initial intentions without losing its integrity.”

Last March, Jones said that he had “taken Billetproof as far as I have the knowledge and energy to take it.”

Galbraith, who said he’s leaving a career in television to pursue Billetproof, also said he plans to add more shows to the existing two, including shows on the East Coast, in the Northwest, Southeast and lower Midwest, over the next few years.

As for this year’s two Billetproof shows, Detroit’s will take place on June 2, while the Antioch show will take place September 15. For more information, visit billetproof.com.

(This post originally appeared in the April 26, 2007, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)

Back in March, we reported that Kirk Jones, one of the two founding fathers of the successful Billetproof shows, announced his intention to sell the two annual traditional hot rod shows to a qualified caretaker.
“I have taken Billetproof as far as I have the knowledge and energy to take it,” Jones wrote earlier this year. “I’d love for a new person or group, with new enthusiasm, to get involved and take it even further.”
Jones recently announced that he has found somebody to take it over, but is currently working out the details with them.
“The short answer is that the show has NOT BEEN SOLD at all,” Jones said. “I am tentatively working on passing it on to a very qualified fellow rodder who has helped with the show for the past few years, promotes a couple of his own events and is more than dedicated, knowledgeable and qualified to carry the show on as it is.”
He dispelled rumors that Goodguys—for whom he edits their Goodguys Gazette magazine—bought Billetproof, as well as rumors that he’s handing it off to Boyd Coddington.
As far as this year’s Billetproof shows, Jones held the Detroit show in June and Billetproof Nor-Cal, the 10th annual Billetproof show, will take place September 16 at the Antioch Fairgrounds. For more details, visit billetproof.com

(This post originally appeared in the August 31, 2006, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)